The Bookshelf Project #25

This week's pictures of bookshelves are from Orly Agawin, a trainer for a contact here in Manila. He also maintains an excellent blog. Check it out!





Orly designed his bookshelves such that the books at the highest part of the room. Now that is definitely a space saver. And don't you think that Orly's room is so cozy? It's the perfect place to spend those lazy afternoons in.

Now let's see what Orly's book collection is comprised of. Hmmm... I can see lots of Brown and Tolkien! He also has a good Filipiniana collection and lots of classic titles -- definitely signs of a wide reader.




What do you think of Orly's shelves, dear reader?

Vampires, faeries, and zombies

I realized that I had read so many books that I haven't posted reviews on. In an effort to catch up, allow me to post short reviews of young adult novels that I've read recently. Incidentally, these 3 YA novels all had mythical characters in them -- vampires, faeries, and zombies.

First is Melissa De La Cruz's Masquerade, which is book 2 of her series Blue Bloods. Think Gossip Girl meets Meyer's Twilight (or The Vampire Diaries or The Thirst or any other teen novel with vampires in it). Yes, it's that forgettable. De La Cruz's vampires are incarnations of fallen angels who now move among the elite. It's an interesting premise, but I feel that the glamorous theme that De La Cruz lends to her vampiric characters falls flat.

Second is Maggie Stiefvater's Ballad, a YA novel that touches on the Celtic myth of faeries. I haven't read many novels that have faeries (except for Peter Pan). Steifvater's novel is dark, lush and atmospheric. I loved it! In Ballad, we get to read about faeries who use humans as tools for their own intentions. There's none of the cute, magical, and winged faeries in Ballad. Some of Stiefvater's faeries, in fact, kill humans. In Ballad, you get to read about faeries who feed off the musical talents of mortals. Thus, the high school for the arts in the novel naturally becomes a convergence point for these faeries.


And the last is Carrie Ryan's wonderful debut novel about the zombie apocalypse, The Forest of Hands and Teeth. Most people have turned into the living dead, which humans call the unconsecrated. And a few surviving humans have established small colonies fortified with gates that keep the unconsecrated out. The novel is very suspenseful. It's a welcome addition to the cluttered zombie genre out there in bookstores. Ryan's writing is so detailed. You feel the claustrophobia all throughout the novel.

There you go, dear reader. I hope you do take some time to pick up some of these novels, especially the ones by Steifvater and Ryan. Even though they're categorized as YA, they can be enjoyed by adults who can't get enough of these mythical creatures.

First-time moderator

So last weekend was my first time ever to moderate a discussion for my book club. I've been active since November of last year but haven't had the guts to facilitate a book discussion yet. However, a few members managed to convince me, and I picked The Hunger Games as our book.

My decision to pick The Hunger Games was somehow fortuitous. Aside from being the book to be discussed for my inaugural moderatorship (is there such a word?), it was also the very first book that I reviewed here in my blog. How time flies!

The book club, Flips Flipping Pages (FFP), usually has a pre-activity before the book discussion itself. For the pre-activity, I thought of having a paintball tournament, another first for FFP. Sadly, I wasn't able to join the tournament as I had to rush to the venue for our book discussion to set up. But judging from the smiles on their faces, I guess everyone had a good time shooting and "killing" each other.

The members before putting on the gear

All smiles despite being in full battle mode


R on the field

The book discussion was held at R.O.X., a huge shop in the metro that specializes in outdoor and sports gear. If you're in Manila and you're the sporty or outdoorsy type, you'll spend hours just looking through their stuff.

Me and a few members busy preparing a game before the discussion
(Talk about last-minute additions!)

The book discussion was very enjoyable. Everyone had their own thoughts about the book, its themes, and other aspects. I actually prepared slides with questions for the book discussions. However, the first question somehow didn't work out so I had to come up with impromptu questions just to get the book discussion on a roll. (That was very, very stressful.) Thankfully, the discussion went its natural course; I barely had to interfere.

I just love hearing about other people's opinion on books. The Hunger Games certainly posed a lot of questions after reading it. What's the cruelest part of the YA novel? Who was your favorite character? Were the characters well developed? How is HG different from other YA novels with the theme such as Battle Royale and The Lord of the Flies? Why are we so hooked on "reality television"?

Joyce and Ivy of Scholastic

And of course, it has been an "informal" tradition among the members of FFP to give bookmarks as tokens after the discussion. I thought of giving 12 bookmarks that will each represent the 12 districts in The Hunger Games. Good thing my good friend R, graphic designer extraordinaire, was able to come up with 12 beautiful designs. The bookmarks were a hit with everyone!

The 12 bookmarks

FFP members Ajie (with the bookmarks) and Jan

I'm glad that the book discussion was enjoyable. It was a lot of hard work in terms of logistics and preparation, plus the fact that I had to call and text members just to confirm their attendance. Nevertheless, being able to moderate was a very rewarding experience.

FFP members after the event We're a happy, smiley lot.

I am extremely grateful to the following persons:

• R for designing the bookmarks and for taking wonderful pictures
• Don and Ajie for the pictures, and for showing up at the paintball tournament much to my surprise
  
• Sana for arranging a meeting with R.O.X. management and for helping me out with the game (together with Ronald and Fatima). She really is the most well-connected person that I know!
• The people at R.O.X. for allowing us full use of their conference room and their audio-visual equipment
  
• People who brought food for the discussion. And there were a lot! We ended up taking some of those home.
• Joyce and Ivy of Scholastic for the HG T-shirts
  
• Everyone who participated
  

Detour

So last weekend, we went to check out the places where we'll have the book club discussion that I will be moderating. After, we decided to drop by the American Cemetery, which is located just at the heart of the metro, an open field of lush green and marble crosses that mark the resting places of American soldiers during the Second World War.




This got me to thinking of all the books -- fiction and nonfiction -- that I've read about war. I've read Hemingway's A Farewell to Arms, Hosseini's A Thousand Splendid Suns and The Kite Runner -- novels that are beautifully written and show how the war affects soldiers and citizens. I've also read Keegan's brilliant nonfiction books about war.

I've enjoyed these books and they provided me with insight on the reasons we go to war, regardless whether these reasons make sense or not. But I wasn't prepared for the feeling I would get during our visit to the American cemetery. Just looking at those rows and rows of marble crosses makes you question why we still go to war.




These soldiers were never even buried in their home country. Some of them are still even identified. Just walking along these rows feels heartbreaking. And these memorial structures don't even include those who have never been found after the war. Their names were simply engraved on the walls of the central building of the cemetery.

There were also several names of Filipinos who died fighting during that great war with their American counterparts. I was even reminded of my grandfather, who was a war veteran. He was one of the lucky ones -- he got to live and raise his family even after that terrible period.



We'll forever be grateful to these people who have unwillingly gave their lives. It is up to us, the present generation, to make sure that they didn't end their lives in vain.

I'm happy that I was able to visit the American Cemetery. I've always passed by that area and never really thought about visiting. That detour made me realize that reading about war is one thing, and that seeing the effects of it is another probably more important thing.

Again, thanks R for taking these beautiful pictures, and for suggesting that we visit this place.

And one more bang

If there's one female comedian who I really, really love, it's Chelsea Handler. It's just too bad that my local cable provider does not include her show, "Chelsea Lately," anymore in their lineup. I need me some Chelsea, and I need it now.

I didn't think that looking at the young adult and children's bookshelves at a local bookstore would help me get my Chelsea Handler fix. Nestled among the teenage vampire, witch, faerie, socialite fashionista young adult fiction were copies of CH's new book! Is it because of the cover that people mistakenly labeled this book as young adult? Couldn't the sales people just have read the flap or back cover to know that this is the last book you want your teenager reading?

CH's new book, Bang Bang, is still funny. Like her other books, My Horizontal Life and What's Up, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea, her latest is made up of hilarious essays from her life. In one chapter, you'll learn how she'll do anything just to get her hands on a Cabbage Patch doll when she was 11. In another, you'll laugh at her conversation with her boyfriend about buying a dolphin for their huge tank at home. And in several chapters, you get to read her many practical jokes she plays on her partner, her staff at work, and her family.

Here are some funny quotes from the book:

I once asked my father about where babies come from, and he told me that "sometimes Daddy parks his car in Mommy's garage." I had no idea what that could possibly mean, but I never went into the garage again.

You wouldn't say LOL if you were out to lunch with someone, so why would you write it in an instant message or an email? Just laugh alone in your office or house. I don't need to be notified that you're laughing. If someone is laughing, then how do they the time to be typing the letters LOL?

My tendency to make up stories and lie compulsively for the sake of my own amusement takes up a good portion of my day and provides me with a peace of mind not easily attainable in this economic climate.

I must admit that Bang Bang isn't as funny as her two earlier books. There seems to be a missing thread here. The essays feel disjointed, far removed from each other. My Horizontal Life chronicled her hilarious one-night stands. What's Up, Chelsea? was about her professional life. Bang Bang is all over the place. And now I have my doubts whether Chelsea is really as funny as she seem to be in her show. Could some of these supposed real-life stories have been made up? Nevertheless, you'll find yourself enjoying Chelsea's wit.

Read this book if:

1. You love Chelsea's kind of humor.
2. You're looking for a few politically incorrect laughs.
3. You did some weird things when you were a kid.

Creepy, beautiful

Over the long weekend, I went with a group of friends out of town. It was perfect, as I badly needed a vacation. One of the highlights of that trip was when we visited Diplomat Hotel, an old and abandoned hotel at the top of the mountain. The structure was first built as a monastery, I believe.


Once inside, the hotel had a haunted feel to it. Just looking at all those rooms and the hallways is enough to give you goosebumps. I can just imagine the hotel in its glory days, with rooms full of tourists. Now, there's just dead silence all around.



And we visited Diplomat Hotel in the late afternoon, the sun casting an eerie glow on the decaying structure.


The hotel also has two fountains inside it. I just love those open spaces inside buildings that let you have views of the sky. You don't see those architectural designs in modern boxy buildings anymore.




Of course, I couldn't resist having my friend take my picture while reading Sarah Waters's wonderful gothic novel Fingersmith.


P.S. Thanks, R, for taking those wonderful pictures.

The Bookshelf Project #24

tI realized that I haven't posted a bookshelf entry for the longest time. So today, I'm showing you the fabulous bookshelves of my friend, Ike. The picture below was taken by his wife, Chuchi.



It's the best to spend the lazy afternoons, right? Everything seems to be in its perfect spot. And I just love how Ike's reading taste is so diverse -- graphic novels, literary fiction, young adult, non-fiction (all those design books).

What do you think of Ike's bookshelves, dear reader?